A consultant cardiologist, Professor Chizindu Alikor, has raised serious concern about the increasing incidence of hypertension among young Nigerians, warning that high blood pressure “is no longer a sickness for the old,” as even 18-year-olds are being diagnosed.

Professor Alikor issued the warning during the 123rd Inaugural Lecture of Rivers State University (RSU) on Wednesday, presenting a lecture titled: “The Silent Active Engine Bearing Weights of Human Sufferings: The Battle to Stay Alive.”

Explaining the theme, Professor Alikor, Chief Medical Director at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), described the heart as “the silent active engine” that tirelessly sustains life despite immense pressure.

He emphasized that lifestyle choices now pose the greatest threats to heart health, noting that diet, stress, excessive salt intake, high refined sugar consumption, obesity, poor diabetes management, and untreated hypertension are key contributors to cardiovascular diseases. “These are factors that negatively impact the human heart,” he said.

To tackle this, he proposed the “Alikor Survival Network Model,” a holistic framework engaging individuals, families, and the healthcare system to ensure better heart care.

Rising Hypertension Among Young Adults and Rural Populations

Professor Alikor, also President of the Nigerian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, highlighted findings from research conducted over 20 years ago, which revealed a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Niger Delta.

He noted a concerning rise in hypertension among rural communities and young people, with cardiovascular risk factor clustering reaching 15% in those aged 18 to 39. “This trend is worrisome,” he said, adding that urbanization, changing diets, and reduced physical activity are likely worsening the situation in cities.

The study also indicated that men are more affected by cardiovascular risk clusters.

Heart Failure and Stroke Remain Key Concerns

Heart failure and stroke continue to be the most common cardiovascular complications among hospitalized patients in the Niger Delta, Professor Alikor stated. He urged that symptoms such as palpitations should never be ignored, as they signal cardiovascular strain requiring prompt attention.

He stressed that survival depends on collective responsibility. “The battle to stay alive is a shared project, not an individual endeavor,” he said, emphasizing that the Alikor Heart Survival Network Model can protect both individuals and communities.

Diet, he added, is the first line of defense: “Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains are beneficial, while high salt, trans fats, and refined sugar are enemies of the silent active engine—the heart.”

Alikor encouraged Nigerians to “know your numbers,” including blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Alarmingly, he noted that even highly educated individuals, including university professors, often have dangerously high blood pressure readings. He advised regular home monitoring using reliable electronic blood pressure devices.

Lifestyle Changes Driving Future Cardiovascular Crisis

Professor Alikor warned that shifts toward fast foods and processed meals, coupled with declining physical activity, are accelerating cardiovascular risks. “Traditional habits like vegetable-rich diets and long walks have been abandoned, and without intervention, the next 10 to 20 years could see a surge in heart attacks and strokes,” he cautioned.

He recommended the adoption of the “Alikor Health Care Survival Model” to mitigate these risks.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to addressing societal challenges through research and intellectual engagement. He noted that factors like poor infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, and disease, compounded by stress and unhealthy lifestyles, strain vital organs and reduce productivity.

The VC highlighted that the university’s culture of inaugural lectures aims to propose sustainable solutions to pressing national challenges.